Since the Taj Mahal, the primary residence of this olelongrooffan, is located a mere two blocks from the World's Most Famous Beach, and virtually any daily driver I get is going to rust in a short time, I decided to find a beater, already rusty, cheap as h*ll mean of transportation.

Today, after returning thejeepjunkie's ride after borrowing it to pick up materials to be used during another meeting with Manuel Labor, this olelongrooffan spotted what could be my new daily driver. That is if I can get thejeepjunkie convinced this is what I need.

And seeing the reflection of my oleragtop in the storefront window behind that classic Yugo really allows me to

Sunday, August 29, 2010

When I woke up this morning, there was a gentle rain with the sound of the surf in the background. It was around 7:30 and this olelongrooffan determined there was absolutely nothing pressing for him to do today.

So I said a quick prayer of thanks for waking up and then this olelongrooffan rolled over and went back to sleep.

Three times.

I finally drug my sorry *ss out of that massive California King in the master suite of the Taj Mahal and fixed me up some breakfast grub.

By this time it had stopped raining but was a cool, windy 78 degrees. Not much was stirring around and the sound of the surf was pretty noticable.

So, you Counters out there know what this olelongrooffan did, don't you?

If you guessed that I headed down to check out the surf, you would be 100% correct.

However, this olelongrooffan did put on a pair of jeans for the first time since April. Yeah, it was rather chilly.

The wave were pretty big, I'd put them at about 8-10' but were not well formed enough for the surfer dudes hanging around to get any action. There were white caps on those distant waves as far as this olelongrooffan could see. The palms were getting pretty beat up by that strong wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean here in the Birthplace of Speed. The lifeguard was pretty relaxed in that mobile red chair as the only hoons in this area in the water were in water just up to their knees. I shot a quick video, cut your volume down pretty quickly, of the scene and you can hear the wind whipping around. I had to put my ball cap on Ron Style to keep it from blowing off my head.

This olelongrooffan then returned to the Taj Mahal, surfed the net for a few hours, took a nap, did some dishes and now I'm getting ready to make a bit of dinner.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

So after spending Wednesday morning searching these interwebs for any type of gainful employment, this olelongrooffan spent the afternoon gathering up the necessary tools to meet with Manuel Labor bright and early on Thursday morning.

While this olelongrooffan was out and about, I spotted what could be my new longroof. But it's not big enough to haul the world's smallest Airstream so this olelongrooffan is going to have to pass on that Geo Metro.As I was returning from the Kid's garage, I noticed a Volusia County Sheriff's Department helicoptor circling around overhead. This olelongrooffan just figured that some hoon had done something stupid and the cops were looking for him.

After those tools were gathered up and a new handle was installed in thejeepjunkie's sledge hammer,this olelongrooffan decided to head down to BBB's favorite grocery store and pick up a few necessary provisions needed to try and fatten up this skinny olelongrooffan.

The police helicopter had, by this time, vacated the scene and was replaced with one from the Channel 6 television station down in MickeyMouseLand. It was stationary about 500 feet above the beach about a half mile south of the Taj Mahal.

Which placed it right at the location of caretaker of the meagerly few dollars this olelongrooffan keeps in my daily driver bank account. As the passing of this location is necessary to arrive at my favorite plaza, this olelongrooffan got a bird's eye view of what was happening. I saw this cop car blocking off Harvard Street immediately adjacent to Bank of America and also to the, at the time, locked down Seabreeze High School. Well Counters, it seems that some felon had decided to rob my Bank of America and left behind a satchel that was thought to contain a bomb! A pretty good idea so as to delay police response.

And Volusia County's finest were on the scene getting to play with some pretty expensive bomb removal equipment. As this olelongrooffan was returning to the Taj Mahal I was immediately behind the motorcycle cop while the silver car was immediately in front of him. When the light at Cardinal and A1A turned red, the hoon driving the silver car proceeded to stop and then sped up and ran that red light. Right in front of that cop! Can you say Stupid? And getting to see all of the events this olelongrooffan saw that Chamber of Commerce weather type of day really lets me

What did thejeepjunkie need? See the black and white checker thingamajug hanging around the perimeter of the master suite at the Taj Mahal in the following couple images? Well, this olelongrooffan didn't bother to ask why that $2.22 ebay acquired checkered flag pennant was needed, I knew an explanation would be offered upon arrival at the Kid's house. And it was. It seems thesungoddess, tired of looking at all those oil pee stains on the driveway outside the Kid's garage, had decided that while she and the Kid's sister were spending the day at the clubhouse pool thejeepjunkie should stain the driveway to cover up all those unwanted aforementioned stains.

And, as always, thejeepjunkie was happy to oblige.

As driving on that surface is not advised for 72-96 hours, a means of stopping vehicular traffic on the shiny dull new coat on that driveway was necessary.

As the Kid's CJ5 has been hustled off to a new home in the woods and his new ride, as well as thejeepjunkie's new ride don't leak oil, what has become of the cause of those driveway pee stains?

Well that Michigan yellow CJ2A has been relegated to a place of honor on the far end of thesungoddess's home, next to that often used super cool canoe and thejeepjunkie's firewoodpile. As thejeepjunkie was entering the Kid's garage upon completion of the installation of that barrier, this olelongrooffan held up a roll of yellow surveyor's tape and asked why he didn't just use this.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Okay, it's another rambling post from this olelongrooffan. But this time instead rambling all over the place, this one is about my olestationbus.

You Counters remember my olestationbus, don't ya?

It is a 1963 Ford Falcon Station Bus built in Lorainne, Ohio in October, 1962 and adorned in Corinthian White paint. It sports 13" tires powered by a 170 cubic inch inline six cylinder, an engine utilized by Ford Motor Company from the early '50's through 1974.

My relationship with my olestationbus began two years, one month, and one week ago.

It was during the third week in July, 2008 that I stumbled upon the olestationbus at auction out in San Antonio, Texas. This olelongrooffan, who has to get all of his automotive purchases approved by thejeepjunkie, promptly called thejeepjunkie directed him to that auction and asked if it could be acquired for two grand can I get? Please? Please? Well Counters, he approved that purchase and just a week or so later, this olelongrooffan had his fat *ss sitting in the back of a Lincoln Town Car heading to the airport down in MickeyMouseLand to catch a flight to The Lone Star State to drive my new longroof home to The Birthplace of Speed. And while that adventure was not as much fun as my On The Road, By The Numbers experience a few weeks prior, this olelongrooffan was still able to Celebrate Life on that road trip and even consumed a couple "Tommy Lee" sandwiches and a Diet Coke or two while updating my On The Road, In The olestationbus series of blogs.

The reason for this is that this olelongrooffan sold my olestationbus on Craigslist on Saturday.

Yeah Counters, after 757 days of ownership, the olestationbus has moved on to find continued adventures with a new owner.

Now, just a little background.

Hold on, thejeepjunkie just called and needs something this olelongrooffan has around the Taj Mahal and I'm heading over to bring it to him. I get some images for ya. Be back soon.

Okay, I'm back. A blog about that will be available shortly.

If You Have Been Counting Along With Me, you know this olelongrooffan's home, the Taj Mahal, is located less than two blocks from the Atlantic Coastline here in the Birthplace of Speed. As a result, rust is a commodity well known to this olelongrooffan. Since the olestationbus has gotten a Shiny New Coat with the newly painted wheels and the chrome hub caps, it has been a source of pride and joy for this olelongrooffan.

Recently however, I have noticed it was starting to regain some surface rust and on its nose, a small hole had rusted through the metal.

Well, reluctantly, this olelongrooffan decided to put my olestationbus on that ever wonderful website known as Craigslist.

It had previously been listed on Craigslist with no success so I dropped the price and listed it again, just over a month ago.

I had not had anyone email or call me about it until Friday evening when I received an email from the ultimate buyer and we struck a deal. The new buyer wanted to come up from Melbourne, Florida (about 90 minutes south of here) on Saturday afternoon to look it over. I told him fine and that Benjamins were required to cut a deal. No problem and what about delivery. I mentioned I could meet him about half way there for a certain price and he countered with a larger number to deliver it to Melbourne. No problem was my response and we signed off.Lo and behold, Saturday afternoon Nick, with his Mom and wife in tow, shows up and turns over several Benjamins to confirm the olestationbus was really to be his and we were set.

So they take off and this olelongrooffan calls thejeepjunkie and the conversation goes something like this:

Hey jeepjunkie, whatcha doing?

Just cleaning under the lid of my washing machine. You?

Wondering if you are up for a road trip to Melbourne this afternoon?

Why in the h*ll would I want to go to Melbourne except for one of Taylor's ball games?

To shuttle this olelongrooffan's sorry *ss home from the new home of my olestationbus.

You sold it?

Yea and got pretty near what I wanted out of it.

Longroof, are you going to drive it down?

Yeah, don't really want to but I guess I can leave a couple hours before you and head down US 1 and we should get there about the same time.

You want to trailer it down instead?

H*ll yeah, jeepjunkie, that roadtrip would certainly be blog worthy.

longroof, let me make a couple phone calls and I'll get back with you.

So thejeepjunkie calls the guy who drives one of these and also owns The Big Red Truck

then he calls the guy who drives one of these and also owns a cherry flatbed car hauling trailer. A few minutes later, thejeepjunkie calls me and tells me to meet him in the Walmart parking lot at Beville and Nova road. "I'll get the truck and the trailer is located three blocks from that Walmart. That way we don't need to double back to pick your olestationbus up," he commented.

See ya then jeepjunkie.

So, at the appointed hour, after google mapping our destination, packing a cooler filled with our favorite carbonated beverages and making sure my el cheapo 28 dollar ebay digital camera was in operating condition, this olelongrooffan jumped in my olestationbus for the 25 minute drive down to that WallyWorld. Our original plan was for thejeepjunkie to stop and pick me up and we would go get the trailer together.

As is usual in typical Lee Boys fashion, plans are always subject to change.

While this olelongrooffan thought he had another 25-30 miles of gas left in that gaugeless fuel tank, my olestationbus proved me wrong.

Well, I was able to coast into that WallyWorld parking lot and find a cozy resting space.

I called thejeepjunkie to apprise him of matters, grabbed that plastic red tank from the rear cargo area and hoofed it over to the corner gas station for five dollars worth of petrol.

I returned to the olestationbus started to pour the gas into the tank and realized this, never before used by me, gas can had a broken collar and as much gas was pouring out on to the macadam parking lot as was going into the tank. Eventually, I got about two thirds of the contents of that can into my olestationbus and got in to fire it up.

Normally when the olestationbus is warmed up, it takes awhile to crank back up. In this case it wasn't starting at all. I popped the doghouse cover to see if there was any fuel in the carb and noticed one of the radiator hoses had come loose.

Holy Cr*p Batman!

I promptly called thejeepjunkie to twitter an update as this olelongrooffan was heading into the horror of horrors that is Walmart, to buy a screwdriver (ended up with a set), some coolant and a new gas can as one was included with the sale of my olestationbus. thejeepjunkie said no worries, get it running, I'll go get the trailer and come on back for you.

And I got it running and thejeepjunkie got the trailer.

Upon driving up he asked "Is it running?"

Yep.

Good let's get it on this ultra deluxe trailer.And we did.

And we set off for the Eisenhour Highway System and got southbound and down.

After getting thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan a cold sodie pop, I noticed we were cruising at almost 80 miles per hour.

"Sh*t dude," I exclaimed! "We are almost going 80!"

No worries longroof. This Big Red Truck can handle it. I just hope the windshield of your olestation bus doesn't blow out.

This has got to be the fastest speed your olestationbus has ever been!! And we laughed for about 10 miles!!He then looks over at me and says, "H*ll, this is probably the fastest speed YOU'VE been in ten years."

And we got a laugh for another ten miles.

And yes, we hit the ubiquitous Florida summertime thunder storm.

Four different times. As we were driving through "Historic Downtown" Melbourne, thejeepjunkie spotted this bell outside a church and briefly pondered grabbing it for a certain farm or impliment filled backyard up in the Ozarks.

We decided to pass. As this olelongrooffan pointed out, "If I'm going to hell, it is gonna be for stealing a billion dollars, not an old bell no matter how cool it is." thejeepjunkie agreed.

So we got to the new home of my olestationbus and this olelongrooffan climbed into the driver's seat of that cab forward creation and cranked that massive 170 cubic inch motor over.

Well not really, it turns out I hadn't really gotten as much gas in it as I had thought and it was Out Of Gas.

The Honest To God Truth!

So I turn to the new owner and ask if he has any gas. Nope. He then mentions he'll go get some. I pull that virgin gas can from the cargo area and start to walk to his car. He says, "Don't worry I'll get it. After all, I'm going to be using it."

So I started walking around my olestationbus looking at it for one last time and reminising about the blast it has been to own.

I noticed that small rust hole on the nose did not fare well under the onslaught of near 80 mile per hour winds. And that San Antonio, Texas Pep Boy acquired stick on driver's side mirror was totally AWOL and its current location will never be known by this olelongrooffan. thejeepjunkie did manage to get the final image of me and my olelongrooffan while Nick was out getting gasoline for it. He returned and I gassed it up and started it up and removed it from that mack daddy trailer.

Just after Nick handed me the remainder of the Benjamins to finalize this transaction, this olelongrooffan got an image of the happy new owner of my olestationbus. thejeepjunkie and this olelongrooffan beat it the h*ll out of there and returned the borrowed vehicles and got back to the Taj Mahal around ten o'clock on Saturday evening elated but totally exhausted.

thejeepjunkie had himself one of those beverages he likes so much while this olelongrooffan iced down some of my favorite beverage and we congratulated each other on a job well done.

Now I am certain You Counters Out There are wondering what the title of this post is referring to.

Well, it is like this. If you take what this olelongrooffan had invested in my old olestationbus and deducted the sale price of it from that total, the amount equals $227.26. I owned it for 757 days.

That means, Counters, this olelongrooffan drove my old olestationbus for 30 cents a day.

Overall, a d*mn fine investment that allows this olelongrooffan to really

Friday, August 20, 2010

This olelongrooffan can only suggest if you Counters Out There decide to stick around, you should refresh that cold beverage and find a comfortable seat as I ramble on about another day in the life of this olelongrooffan.

Several months ago this olelongrooffan needed to change the broken carrier bearing mount for the drive shaft in my oleragtop. thejeepjunkie was kind enough to allow this olelongrooffan to utilize one of those hydraulic lifts down at the shop where he wheels and deals sells tires and service. While it was in the air, after the heat shields were removed between the muffler system and the drive shaft, his boss, Mr. Happy, comes over to take a gander at what was up and mentions the "rag gasket", shown on the rear of the bottom two images here, attached to the rear of the transmission is shot and it needed to be replaced as well. I mentioned to him that the chances of anyone in town having this part for the 22 year old oleragtop in stock was minimal. He told me to get on the horn with Beachside Auto Parts and get one ordered and they could have it here first thing in the am. I asked if I would be able to utilize that lift another day. "Of course longroof, you are part of the family." I love it when he takes his meds.

So I got that "rag gasket" from my parts friends and installed it and the oleragtop runs like a champ. However, (you knew there was one coming) when I removed those heat shields and bolts I placed them in the cluttered trunk of that oleragtop. The next day while I was doing the reinstallation, two bolts came up missing. Mr. Happy checked in and, upon realizing my situation, directed me to several plastic coffee cans full of errant bolts and nuts on that heavy duty, winch bearing work bench nearby. I was able to find two similar, but not exact, replacement bolts and fastened that heat shield to the unibody of my oleragtop, dropped it to the ground and washed up with that killer grease removing gel thejeepjunkie keeps around just for that reason.

And all was well.

For about a month.

All of the sudden every time I would drive my oleragtop at low, sustained speeds an enormous racket emanating from beneath the *ss of this olelongrooffan while driving my oleragtop would fill the otherwise tranquil air that was the experience of piloting my oleragtop. I figured those two bastardized bolts were the culprit but I hesitated doing anything about it as it would mean imposing on thejeepjunkie to, once again, use that lift or to perform a repair in the parking lot at the Taj Mahal (not a choice alternative given the condo commandos' overbearing presence round these parts).

In the meantime, this olelongrooffan emptied out the trunk of that black beauty and found those no longer missing bolts and preserved them for future application.

She told me it was an issue with my service provider and that station did not recognize it. Okaaay.

I then returned to the drop top and head out....without replacing the untethered gas cap on my oleragtop. I realized this upon returning to the Taj Mahal to double check my paypal balance and did a serious falm palm when I realized a trip to my local U-Pull-It would be required to replace that wayward gas cap.

It seems at that particular station, when using a debit card, they request $75 committment from my financial services company and, as my balance over there was around $45, and that precipitated the declined use of that card that day.

Another mystery solved.

So earlier this week at Happy Hour this olelongrooffan mentioned to thejeepjunkie that the installation of the period correct factory installed bolts was required so the next owner of my oleragtop would not have to do so. I mentioned this olelongrooffan was heading up to TomP's home to perform the weekly, and paid, ritual of mowing and weed eating his, prior to joining TheGentlemanFarmer and Mom, home. I mentioned I would take my floor jack and put the oleragtop in the air with it and perform that installation.

Well Counters, Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Be Flexible. Late last week, this olelongrooffan received compensation from out Californey way and it was deposited into this special account for hiding cash thejeepjunkie has. As it turns out, that check cleared on Tuesday and as my cell phone provider and my internet connection provider were looking for compensation of their own, this olelongrooffan decided to head down to thejeepjunkie's shop to get his plastic card and get the hard earned Benjamin's I had earned and make good with those wireless firms.

Upon arrival at thejeepjunkie's shop, I immediately headed to his roaming tool box and got the keys to his ride to get that card and headed next door to get those Benjamins.

When I returned he inquired if all was well and my response was in the affirmative.

thejeepjunkie asked this olelongrooffan what my next step was?

"I would love to pull my oleragtop into one of those rare empty bays you have, put it in the air and replace those not stock bolts standing up rather than on my back under a floor jack, unattended, up at TomP's place."

A mere twenty minutes later that oleragtop was on the ground and that loud racket was silenced thanks to thejeepjunkie, a couple ratcheting box end wrenches and a little sweat perfusing from this olelongrooffan.

"Done already?" was thejeepjunkie's response when I was spotted after another application of the aforementioned gel.

"Yeah, jeepjunkie, I told you it would only be twenty minutes and, by the way, thanks a ton, it was a breeze."

"Now whatcha doing?"

"I'm gonna head out and satisfy those liens proffered by the wireless companies I utilize to stay in touch with my family, friends" and You Counters.

So this olelongrooffan jumped in my oleragtop leaving, for possibly the last time in it, thejeepjunkie's shop and headed out to my voice and, yes now, text provider's local establishment to cover my obilgations and then to compensate the corporate giant that provides my ability to contact You Counters and also allows them to sponsor the racing series that allows NASCAR to meet payroll each month.

Once this olelongrooffan had fulfilled those obligations, it was realized that my local U-Pull-It was less than a mile away, just beyond that Eisenhower Highway System interchange and this would be a good time to snag one of those untethered gas caps for the next owner of my oleragtop.

And I did.

So, this olelongrooffan, after checking the skies for potential rain clouds and pulling up the top on that black beauty, strolled past the squadron of wheelbarrows waiting for their time in action and stepped up to the entry counter. I plopped down two Washingtons, signed my life away and entered that bastion of male testosterone, also known as a junkyard.

Well as it seems with many aspects of the life this olelongrooffan has, at the first BMW I came to, I flipped open the gas filler door and, EUREKA, there was a genetically identical twin to the gas cap missing from my oleragtop. I calmly put it in the pocket located on my thigh in those bush jean type shorts this olelongrooffan acquired from a local clearance outlet for the measly sum of $5.00 per pair.

Now What?

This olelongrooffan had just spent two of my, very few these days, dollars to get inside the electrically charged perimeter and having been there for less than fifteen minutes, most of which was spent walking back to the "import" section, I was bound and determined to get my two bucks worth.

So Counters, guess what this olelongrooffan did?

If you guessed that I whipped out my trusty, elcheapo twenty-eight dollar ebay provided digital camera and commenced to getting some images of some old imports in that junkyard, please accept a hardy cyber provided congratulations from this olelongrooffan.

There was an old XJ6 I spotted but this olelongrooffan had forgotten where it was so settling for this Vanden Plus, much like the one this olelongrooffan swiped the medallion off around Christmas, was the best that could be done.

From the front, it looked in relatively good shape and most of its body parts had yet to be cannibalized.

I took a gander at the interior and it looked, as most Florida junkyard cars do, in tatters. Once an owner quits armouralling the cr*p out of a leather interior down here in The Sunshine State, it quickly begins to look as this one does. Then I headed around the rear to see what terminal damage, other than Lucas Electrics, caused the demise of this species of a once great and luxurious means of Royal Transportation. Sure enough, that damage to the driver's side rear quarter panel would have provided the justification necessary to offer a quick death to this once proud Jaguar. But how the h*ll did it happen with no apparent damage to the trunk lid? That, Counters, is a mystery this olelongrooffan will never solve.

And while we are in Britian, let's check out this rubber bumpered MGB offered by British Leyland. Much like our own General Motors is now, British Leyland was, at that time, owned by its government. At the time, BL was struggling with the superior quality of the upstart offerings of The Land of The Rising Sun and, ultimately, did not survive that onslaught. This one was pretty picked over and will soon head to China to be transformed into, literally, a boatload of Harbor Freight Tools. But this olelongrooffan has this to say about that: I am glad I was not looking for a gas cap for an MGB as that gapping hole just to the right side of the driver's side taillight will attest. FAIL.

Just a few rows down, I spotted another rare British Leyland. This pint sized offering of the MG family is a MG Midget. This version of the Morris Garages output appeared to have lived a significant portion of its short life in either the snowy, salt loving northeast or in parts of the coastal southeast given the abundance of body rot showing along both sides of this short lived wonder of the British Leyland empire. This Easter egg blue ragtop appeared to not have been completely pilfered of its goodies as had its older brethren and will probably not be seeing that slow boat to China anytime soon. Any Counters Out There needing a pair of taillight lenses for a rubber bumper era MG Midget, just drop this olelongrooffan an email.

As this olelongrooffan checked out the skies just out the passenger side window of this late 60's Mustang, I realized that it probably be a good, dry idea to head on back to the oleragtop and continue on with the adventures to be enjoyed this day.

But, of course, I had to stop and get a couple images of this German icon of the sixties in its final resting place.Similar to its short in stature British brethren, there were a few goodies to be resurrected for another life remaining on this Type II and, also like that blue shorty, cancer appeared to have shortened this ole hippy mobile's active lifetime also. And Cheech and Chong need to be called upon to ascertain the exact purposes and locations of the wiring that was formerly beneath the dashboard of this generation of the original forward control civilian people transporting machine.

This olelongrooffan will bet a princely sum there are still traces of cannabis in that ole bus.

While I was heading down that long stretch of open air pavement toward the exit of my local U-Pull-It, this olelongrooffan spotted the center section formerly covering the lug nuts on a wheel of an AutoUnion desendent lying there neglected and trod upon by the masses looking for replacement parts for an early 90's Neon seen in the background of the blue, vertically challenged offering by the Queen's own car producing company.Of course, the only thing this olelongrooffan saw was GarageArt and it was promptly rescued from a definite demise in an open air 20 yard dumpster and relegated to a prominate location in the Taj Mahal.

Upon arrival at the only electrically safe entry and exit points of this facility, this olelongrooffan walked up to the check out desk and the future Hoon behind that window looked at my AutoUnion possession and said, "We're good."

Thanks man. And I beat it out of there.

Now, as I am heading east toward the coastal area of the region this olelongrooffan lives in, I decided to drop the top and lower the windows in my oleragtop for what just could be the final ride driven in it from that local junkyard.

So, the oleragtop takes me back under that Eisenhour Highway System's bridge at US 92and I-95 and I realize the Daytona International Speedway is rapidly approaching my traveling environment.

Well Counters, this olelongrooffan determined that an update on the repaving process at the Daytona International Speedway was in order.

I started by heading south on Williamson, past the private entrance where this olelongrooffan had gained an illgotten entrance and circled around to see the temporary asphalt batch plant that has been erected behind the backstretch grandstands. The significant amount of gravel necessary for the repaving of that two and half mile speedway can be seen in the following image, just to the east of that batch plant. I then returned to International Speedway Boulevard and proceeded to the parking lot of the home of the Rolex 24 at Daytona and parked under the rare shade tree. This olelongrooffen hoofed it across that parking lot to the entrance of the Daytona 500 Experience.

Yes Counters, I walked across an entire parking lot to get to that entrance because in Florida, especially in a black ragtop, a parking space is determined by the amount of shade provided, not by the proximity to the entrance of an establishment.

Unlike my last experience, the Oldfield Grandstands were open and this olelongrooffan headed up into that rarely attended grandstand to check out the action down on the track.

It turns out the paving crew was working on the backstretch, out of the prying eyes of this olelongrooffan and all that could be seen that day was the result of the efforts of the demolition crews.

They did leave some equipment lying dormant for we few spectators to observe and get images of. The paving crew had totally removed all of the asphalt from turn 4 exposing the limestone subgrade put in place some fifty years ago. You can see it exposed in the following image. Also in that image you can see the temporary road constructed outside the barrier wall that will be utilized by the equipment needed to stabilize the paving equipment while repaving the 33 degree banked turn. Also note the lack of catch fencing around that turn.

Looking through the still remaining catch fence, beyond the palm tree adorned infield, it can be seen that the pavement on turn 3 has, thus far, escaped the wrath of those pavement destroying machines. Although it is a bit difficult to make out in the following image due to the reinforcing cables running horizontally within the catch fence, that horizontal line just below those bright orange pylons is the remaining surface of that 6" thick pavement installed in 1978. And smack dab in the middle of the exit of turn 4 is this huge pile of future subgrade material for that soon to be installed surface. Notice the portolet in the background? This olelongrooffan has by personal knowledge there are three fully functioning bathrooms within 100 yards of this location! So, by now this olelongrooffan has been out in the wonderfully refreshing mid August Florida sunshine for just about long enough so I reversed my entry process through the Daytona 500 Experience, hesitating long enough to get an image of the temporarily delayed Richard Petty Driving Experience promotional race car, and get back to my oleragtop. Incidentally, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which normally operates at the Daytona International Speedway year round, has temporarily relocated its operations to the speedway down in MickeyMouseLand at Disney World.

As I was headed up Nova Road to clandestingly swing by thejeepjunkie's garage and gather up his handy dandy weedeater, I spotted this cool old pick up truck and had to get a shot of it for the Bus. I then returned Beachside and entered the Taj Mahal through its massive entry door and remembered that, by now, it is so I fixed one up for this olelongrooffan and commenced to sharing my day with all of you Counting Along With Me.

Celebrate Life

Why By The Numbers?

At the time I started this blog, I owned three cars, none of which had names, manufacturers, yes, BMW, Ford, Volvo. But no names, just numbers, 325, 150, 850. Hence, By The Numbers.

The By The Numbers Cast

longrooffan, that would be me, living Beachside Ormond Beach, Florida

The Bus, my older brother Jim living in the Ozarks

thebeachbiker (formerly thehorsefarmer), my older brother Tom who now lives in St. Augustine Beach with his wife, thebeachgoddess (formerly thebarngoddess) having moved there from a small farm in the Ozarks

thejeepjunkie, my younger brother Ed living in Ormond Beach, Florida

thesungoddess, thejeepjunkie's wife

the Kid, thejeepjunkie's son

the Kid's sister, well that is self explanitory

TheGoodAttorney, a good friend Jim

BBB, my big brother Bob living in Tampa

TheKenMan, my buddy Ken Young who lives in Naples and Door County Wis.

TheGentlemanFarmer, my Dad who at 45 years old, moved 7 of his 10 city kids to a 173 acre farm and mowed the hay fields in a shirt and tie